Reps. Mackenzie, Bresnahan, and Perry Allowed Critical Health Care Tax Credits To Expire Last Year, Skyrocketing Premiums

February 13, 2026

PENNSYLVANIA - Following the end of Pennsylvania’s open enrollment period last month, Pennie yesterday announced that nearly 1 in 5 enrollees were unable to keep their health plan in 2026 due to rising costs.

Despite warnings from experts and advocates, Congressmen Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan, and Scott Perry prioritized expanding tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy over extending expiring health care tax credits for their constituents. The tax credits ultimately expired at the end of 2025.

Without these tax credits, Pennie costs increased by an average of 102% across Pennsylvania. Over 25,000 of Bresnahan’s constituents relied on these tax credits in 2025 for affordable care. Premiums have increased by an average of 84% in PA-08. Similarly, 21,000 Pennsylvanians in Mackenzie’s district benefited from the tax credits. His constituents now face an average premium increase of 178%. Congressman Perry represents 25,000 tax credit users and the district facing the highest premium increase in the Commonwealth at 180%.

"The ACA is the only reason we were able to have our first son. The $35,000 bill for his birth was largely covered under the expanded health care tax credits offered during the pandemic," said Charles K. Of Pocono Township. "Now, just 4 years later, these critical tax credits have expired, putting coverage out of reach, and leaving no affordable path for us to grow our family. Congressman Rob Bresnahan should be fighting for these tax credits so that young families can remain healthy and grow without being buried in medical debt."

Read more about how higher premiums are hurting Pennsylvania’s health care system, economy, and communities:

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: One in five Pennie enrollees drops health coverage following expired subsidies

• Pennsylvania’s Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace reported Monday that nearly 20% of their enrollees, roughly 85,000 people, dropped their coverage. The move followed the doubling of their premiums after the GOP-controlled Congress allowed enhanced subsidies to expire at the end of last year.

• The average premium increased by 102%, though some reported that their monthly costs tripled.

• Those still enrolled shifted their preferences, opting for the bronze plans with lower monthly premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs. Pennsylvanians with qualifying life events, such as moving or having a baby, may still enroll in Pennie outside of the open enrollment period.

• Some of the feedback from would-be enrollees included those who said new premiums would take up nearly half of their income or force them to choose between health coverage and rent, food and utilities.

• In its release, Pennie said that higher numbers of uninsured and underinsured Pennsylvanians strains the state’s health care system and economy, driving up medical bankruptcy and debt, discouraging entrepreneurship and small business employment and increasing uncompensated care costs for hospitals and providers.

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